Bonhams Sale December 2015

There are three Speedmasters in Bonhams Auctioneers, scheduled to sell on 16th December, and you can see the full catalog here. All photos and descriptions are lifted from the catalog. The premium is 25% on the bid. Note that two of these are subject to 20% vat on the entire amount. So that is BID+COMMISSION+VAT. Work it out. Not that cheap after all. (Obviously exporters do not have to pay this).

The online catalog is not easy to see the true condition, the photos are not that great, and possibly over processed. These watches really need to be inspected at the premises in New Bond Street in London.

Lot24

First is a 105.003-64. The watch looks to have correct parts and serial. The hands look super white and may be more recent replacements of the correct shape. The bezel is correct but some damage – its not a top condition, (and therefore value). The 7912 bracelet is also correct, and if it has the correct No. 6 end links that’s would be $2000 to replace.

The dial looks nice and the case looks thick – these two things, added to the correct bezel and bracelet, mean the watch should sell well. I expect it to be bid over estimate.

Next we have another straight lug, a 2998-3 with the super rare lollipop, but a telemetre bezel. I am suspicious of this watch. I don’t like the lume on the lollipop nor the greenish lume on the triangle hour hand. If it is all original, it doesn’t look attractive. The telemetre bezel is a tough one, because it is not possible for me to distinguish the difference between an old, original one and a new ($200) one that has been aged. Therefore I do not allow the bezel to contribute to my valuation. Remember a correct DO90 bezel will be over $1000. (Recently another sold for $1800 but it was NOS).

The serial is 17762911. I think this is OK – but not 100% on this, and because of the hands and bezel I am super sensitive to anything that is not totally correct.

This obviously has no bracelet, but this will have to be born in mind when valuing. (A correct bracelet will cost as much as $1500-2000)

Note also that this watch is subject to 20% vat on the entire price.

Even so, with all the caveats, I expect this watch to be bid for well over estimate because people will be blinded by the lollipop and ignore the telemetre, and lack of bracelet. That said the 20% vat might slow the local bidders.

Next is a project watch. I think is a frankenwatch, put together from parts that never met at the Omega factory. Listed as a 105.003, but the movement number is probably misread: 29525748 which is not a 321 number. We really need to see inside the back before bidding – it could even be an 861 in there. EDIT: It has been suggested, sensibly, that this is a miss-read of the number and that the actual number could be 20525748 that puts it right at the start of production of this reference – it makes sense. Therefore I would withdraw the “Frankenwatch” description.

The bezel is another indeterminate age one, as Telemetre bezels cannot be accurately determined as to age. That means we have to discount the value as the original DO90 is so valuable. This bezel looks bleached.

The hands look ok.

The dial, a non pro stepped dial, looks as though it might be missing any T marks. I cannot tell for sure, and if they are not there we need to double check it is not a redial (I don’t think it is). If so this is a valuable 2998 dial, and will ensure the watch is sold. EDIT: I think there may be high T marks, just not easily spotted. Thanks again for the contribution!

The crystal is wrong for a 105.003, it has the silver rehaut instead of black, This is a very common mistake.

The watch has chrono issues, the hour subdial does has not reset.

The 1171 bracelet is incorrect for this reference.

It is also subject to 20% VAT on the entire price if it stays in the UK.